text,updated_at,metaphor,created_at,context,theme,reviewed_on,dictionary,comments,provenance,id,work_id
"Having, therefore, so narrowly passed through this intricate difficulty, the reader will, I am sure, agree with me in the conclusion that, if the moderns mean by madness only a disturbance or transposition of the brain, by force of certain vapours issuing up from the lower faculties, then has this madness been the parent of all those mighty revolutions that have happened in empire, in philosophy, and in religion. For the brain in its natural position and state of serenity disposeth its owner to pass his life in the common forms, without any thought of subduing multitudes to his own power, his reasons, or his visions, and the more he shapes his understanding by the pattern of human learning, the less he is inclined to form parties after his particular notions, because that instructs him in his private infirmities, as well as in the stubborn ignorance of the people. But when a man’s fancy gets astride on his reason, when imagination is at cuffs with the senses, and common understanding as well as common sense is kicked out of doors, the first proselyte he makes is himself; and when that is once compassed, the difficulty is not so great in bringing over others, a strong delusion always operating from without as vigorously as from within. For cant and vision are to the ear and the eye the same that tickling is to the touch. Those entertainments and pleasures we most value in life are such as dupe and play the wag with the senses. For if we take an examination of what is generally understood by happiness, as it has respect either to the understanding or the senses we shall find all its properties and adjuncts will herd under this short definition, that it is a perpetual possession of being well deceived. And first, with relation to the mind or understanding, it is manifest what mighty advantages fiction has over truth, and the reason is just at our elbow: because imagination can build nobler scenes and produce more wonderful revolutions than fortune or Nature will be at the expense to furnish. Nor is mankind so much to blame in his choice thus determining him, if we consider that the debate merely lies between things past and things conceived, and so the question is only this: whether things that have place in the imagination may not as properly be said to exist as those that are seated in the memory? which may be justly held in the affirmative, and very much to the advantage of the former, since this is acknowledged to be the womb of things, and the other allowed to be no more than the grave. Again, if we take this definition of happiness and examine it with reference to the senses, it will be acknowledged wonderfully adapt. How sad and insipid do all objects accost us that are not conveyed in the vehicle of delusion! How shrunk is everything as it appears in the glass of Nature, so that if it were not for the assistance of artificial mediums, false lights, refracted angles, varnish, and tinsel, there would be a mighty level in the felicity and enjoyments of mortal men. If this were seriously considered by the world, as I have a certain reason to suspect it hardly will, men would no longer reckon among their high points of wisdom the art of exposing weak sides and publishing infirmities--an employment, in my opinion, neither better nor worse than that of unmasking, which, I think, has never been allowed fair usage, either in the world or the play-house.
(pp. 82-3 in OUP ed.)",2013-09-11 21:32:52 UTC,"""But when a man's fancy gets astride his reason, when imagination is at cuffs with the senses, and common understanding as well as common sense, is kicked out of doors; the first proselyte he makes is himself, and when that is once compassed the difficulty is not so great in bringing over others, a strong delusion always operating from without as vigorously as from within.""",2003-10-21 00:00:00 UTC,"","",2003-10-23,"","•Previous metaphors are replayed in this passage. I haven't extracted them and stored them in their own record.
•I've separated fancy, understanding, and imagination into three separate entries (5/29/2003).",Reading,10426,4024
"This is too manifest in the Character of Artonio, the vilest Zarazian in Albigion, and one who is universally hated, even by his own Party. Who is so far from being rul'd by Reason, that he suffers himself to be carried away by every little Perswasion of Interest; for whose Sake he certainly precipitates himself upon some cholerick Action, the Event whereof sullies his Honour with the darkest Stains of Infamy and Disgrace; but that he values no more than he does Religion, which he observes as little as he does paying his Debts. But Generous Spirits exercise more Humanity towards them who have oblig'd them, than they whom they oblige, as we may see by Experience practis'd in the Triumphs of Great Men. All the World knows it is an Heroick Action not to be transported by our Passions; and tho' they may chance to assault our Wills, yet that Judgment that governs 'em will make us relish our Reasons. In short, the ill Life and Conversation of this Zarazian has obscur'd all the Great Achievements of his Politicks.
(II, pp. 96-7)",2013-06-21 15:39:44 UTC,"""All the World knows it is an Heroick Action not to be transported by our Passions; and tho' they may chance to assault our Wills, yet that Judgment that governs 'em will make us relish our Reasons""",2004-11-24 00:00:00 UTC,Part II,"",,"",•I've included twice: Assault and Ruler,Searching HDIS (Prose); found again in C-H Lion,10461,4040
"Intel. See there the Prince Adario, conspicuous for his Equipage, but much more for his having his Princess in the same Coach with him. She come down deep to his French Valet de Chambers for this Favour: My Lady Vertue, she is certainly of your Court, and the greatest Ornament of that of Angela's; is not her Person graceful, her Air sweet and modest; would not one believe her Charms are sufficient to conquer a thousand Hearts? yet they make no impression upon that only One she desires to touch; her Birth is most illustrious, descended from a Race of Heroes, neither has Scandal, (which scarce spares your very Ladyships) tainted her Character, but when they object, they tell us she loves Cards too well, which was a Diversion she probably took up, to amuse her trouble of Mind from her Lord's repeated Inconstancy: How great and how little is that Man? something so very high, and yet so very low in his Character, even his Generosity is a Virtue too much extended, and borders so intimately upon Extravagancy; that one knows not how to divide 'em, then the Merit of his Courage is so allay'd by his want of Conduct, that in praising one, it always puts us in mind how much we ought to blame the other; so ambitious in his Principles; so humble in his Converse; so managed by his Favourites, and so mistaken in his unworthy Choice of 'em; in his Amours only there's no Contradiction, there 'tis all of a piece, Vice without any allay; he has corrupted more Women than a Grand-Seignor; his Pleasure consists in Variety; he leaves nothing undone to compass his Ends, and because Money makes the best dispatch, he is lavish of that to profuseness; the Traders in Amour no sooner see a handsome young Girl come to Town; a Citizen marry'd to a pretty Wife; a beautiful Daughter expos'd to the Frowns of Fortune by the death of her Parents, but they run with their Intelligence to his Highness; the French-Valets introduce 'em, one is very well rewarded, and the other, by these Services, keep themselves in favour; yet has he this of Magnificent in his Temper, he turns none of his Women to starve when he has done with 'em; there are several, (that sometimes shine in the Prado) to whom he has given large Cantons of his Estate; his now favourite Mistress is a Woman of exalted Birth; he purchas'd her of her Mother, (and that was most abominable) by a considerable Sum to her self, and a Settlement of Two thousand Crowns a Year upon her Daughter; the reverend Matron did not blush to sell the Prince's Favour to all that would purchase; (a wretched Principle) she was not asham'd to take sixty Pieces of a poor Poet, (all the Profit that his Brains had ever been able to present him) to make him only a Subaltern; the French-Valets rejoic'd at her death, because she was very like, during her Daughter's Reign, to run away with their Profit, the Bribes having all found the way to her. When the Prince went to his Vice-Royalty in the Indies, the Princess, his Wife, was forced to give give an incredible Sum to those rascally Fellows, or she had been left behind; yet had she the new Mortification, to find her Lord so wholly neglectful of her, and of all Business, as to shut up himself whole Days, to write long tedious repeated Assurances of Love to his then reigning Mistress; neither was he ever easie till she arriv'd, but those Transports are pretty well abated of their first violence; he has return'd long since to his darling love of Variety; 'tis pity no kind Hand is found to rescue him from this continu'd Vice, to paint on his Lady's suffering Merit, that, if possible, he may, tho' late, do justice to it. He's now no longer in his Youth; 'tis time these Follies shou'd pass away, but I doubt there's small hopes of it, whilst he is in those Hands, that manage him; but by the continuation of his Frailties, and will not, in all probability, so much to their own prejudice, awaken him from that Lethargy he appears so many Years to have been buried in: He's positively good-natur'd, all the Errors of his Life seem not to proceed so much from himself, as his Flatterers, who have cherish'd and encourag'd 'em in him; had his Choice first light upon Men of Honour, and true Principles, how eminent might he now have been? neither is it yet too late, if he strive to redeem his Character, it will appear, as if those ill Habits had been rather acquir'd than natural to him.
(pp. 165-7)",2009-09-14 19:35:06 UTC,"""[W]ould not one believe her Charms are sufficient to conquer a thousand Hearts?""",2005-01-20 00:00:00 UTC,"",Free indirect Discourse,,"","","Searching ""conque"" and ""heart"" in HDIS (Prose)",10575,4111
"'Tis hard to see two Persons more handsome than the young General and Ismena, they immediately exchang'd Eyes, and if it be permitted me to say, Souls. There happen'd an inevitable Simpathy, but alas! their Love was born in Sorrow, no sooner did they know they were worthy each others Admiration, but they began to mourn their mutual Sensibility; no sooner did they feel that their Heart, by strong Impulse carry'd 'em to Friendship, but they knew their Houses were mortal Enemies to each other. Ismena the only remaining Branch of the Amori, of the Viceroy's side, and Iuvius the darling Son of the General Iagello, between whose Families there had till then been an unextinguishable Hatred! This youngIagello had been sent that Morning by his Father, with a Detachment to secure the Borders, he had chanced to rescue the Daughter of his Enemy from Slavery, the Fears of which had made so terrible an Impression upon her Mind, that her Joy and Gratitude smooth'd the way, assisted by Juvius's Graceful Form, so that Love found an unforbidden Entrance; her Charms were sufficient of themselves; there needed no Prepossession but what departed from them, to gain a Conquest over any Heart that was not already ingaged. Iagello was vanquish'd! and being born with a lofty Soul, and height of Courage, he did not hesitate at the Prospect of Danger and Difficulty, but resolved to prosecute his Wishes, till they were crown'd in Ismena's Arms. It appear'd Meritorious to him, and the Work of Heaven thus to extinguish that long Hatred and Barbarity of Families, by a Reconciliation of Animosities, immerging the rougher Passions in the more tender. As Indifferency had began the fatal Disunion, Juvius told himself, his induring Perseverance should end it. Ismena bred to no Dissimulation, and who for a long time had beheld at her Aunts only Objects disagreeable, was struct by his Beauty and good Mien, young and sensible as she was, untaught to refuge in Affectation and Cruelty, Habits acquir'd in the Sex by mistaken Pride, she would have thought it Criminal to begin the Artifice here to her Benefactor and her Lover, for such he immediately declar'd himself, and having a Soul as sensible as Great, a vast Capacity and sound Judgment, he foresaw all they were like to suffer from their unlucky Stars, and the implacable Hatred of their Families: Therefore after some hours Conversation, he endeavour'd to dissuade the Maid from returning to her Father's Court, since the cruel Gonneril, whose Ill-nature and Dishonesty was the publick Discourse, wou'd certainly prepossess the Viceroy to their Disadvantage: She was known a publick Enemy to Virtue, and the Quiet of Persons less wicked than her self; nor cou'd he expect more Tenderness fromIagello, who was implacable in his Temper, and not to be mollify'd or influenc'd, but by those more mighty than himself; therefore this ardent Lover, full of his New-born Passion, proposed that they should proceed no farther on their intended Journey; but leaving the Road that led to the Capital of the Alani, take the Route of Sarmatia, where throwing themselves at the Regent's Feet, as he was High-Priest and Prince, he would make it matter of Conscience to compose the Enmity between their Families, of such Offence, both to Heaven and Earth, and afford them a safe and honourable Retreat and Protection. Happy had it been for the lovely Pair, if Ismena had been influenced by this Advice, but our Destinies are perhaps inevitable, sometimes I think that were we to know the Evil that is to befal us, and acquainted with even the Methods by which we might avoid it, yet it would not be in our Power to disappoint the Designments of Fate, which upon any Terms must be accomplish'd.
(pp. 351-4)",2009-09-14 19:35:09 UTC,Charms may be sufficient of themselves to gain a Conquest over any Heart that is not already ingaged,2005-01-20 00:00:00 UTC,Book III,"",,"","","Searching ""heart"" and ""conque"" in HDIS (Prose)",10651,4140
"
Then was Tarasius advanc'd to the See of Antioch, by his Habit only, appearing to be of the Temple: Tarasius! who was as great an Original in his kind as Irene. He had all the Pride, Ambition, Turbulancy, Inconstancy, Violence, Obstinacy, and Spirit of Persecution, that is suppos'd to have infected the fallen Angels. Nor cou'd a more advanced Age bring any Allay to his Fury; he wou'd have made an excellent Pope, when what they call Heresie was to be extirpated. In his Youth he had been of the Orthodox, but finding Idol-Worship was coming to be the fashionable Religion, he profess'd and preach'd it, and so was made Bishop of Antioch, without the least Blush or Reserve of Modesty, at hearing what were his former Opinions recited, he seem'd to have grown craftier, but not more holy; nor did he pretend to it, indulging his amorous Vein, and making as many Conquests over the Bodies of the fair Sex, as of their Souls. He was once upon his Knees to a Lady, afterwards famous in the Altar-Service for the Sweetness and Compass of her Voice, the finest Singer of her Age, the good Priest laid about him with the Zeal of his Function, and begg'd her for Heaven's sake, and something more, to be kind and have Mercy upon him, it might be a means of saving his Soul, for he shou'd die of Melancholly, or Despair, or turn Self-Murderer, if she continu'd to be cruel.
(pp. 223-4)",2009-09-14 19:35:09 UTC,"A bishop may indulge ""amorous Vein"" and make ""as many Conquests over the Bodies of the fair Sex, as of their Souls""",2005-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,Book II,"",,"","","Searching ""soul"" and ""conque"" in HDIS (Prose)",10652,4140
"That fatal Night the Duke felt hostile Fires in his Breast, Love was entred with all his dreadful Artillery; he took possession in a moment of the Avenues that lead to the Heart! neither did the resistance he found there serve for any thing but to make his Conquest more illustrious. The Duke try'd every corner of his uneasie Bed! whether shut or open, Charlot was still before his Eyes! his Lips and Face retain'd the dear Impression of her Kisses! the Idea of her innocent and charming Touches, wander'd o'er his Mind! he wish'd again to be so bless'd, but then, with a deep and dreadful Sigh, he remembred who she was, the Daughter of his Friend! of a Friend who had at his Death left the charge of her Education to him! his Treaty with the Princess Dowager, wou'd not admit
him to think of marrying of her, Ambition came in to rescue him (in that particular) from the Arms of Love. To possess her without, was a villanous detestable Thought! but not to possess her at all, was loss of Life! was Death inevitable! Not able to gain one wink of Sleep, he arose with the first Dawn, and posted back to Angela. He hop'd the hurry of Business, and the Pleasures of the Court, wou'd stifle so guilty a Passion; he was too well perswaded of his Distemper, the Symptoms were right, the Malignity was upon him! he was regularly possess'd! Love, in all its forms, had took in that formidable Heart of his! he began to be jealous of his Son, whom he had always design'd for Charlot's Husband; he cou'd not bear the thoughts that he shou'd be belov'd by her, tho' all beautiful, as the lovely Youth was. She had never had any tender Inclinations for him, nothing that exceeded the warmth of a Sister's love! whether it were that he were designed for, or that the Precepts of Education had warn'd her from too precipitate a liking: She was bred up with him, accustom'd to his Charms, they made no impression upon her Heart! neither was the Youth more sensible. The Duke cou'd distress neither of 'em by his love of that side, but this he was not so happy to know. He wrote up for the young Lord to come to Court, and gave immediate orders for forming his Equipage, that he might be sent to Travel: Mean time Charlot was never from his Thoughts. Who knows not the violence of beginning Love! especially a Love that we hold opposite to our Interest and Duty? 'Tis an unreasonable excess of Desire, which enters swiftly, but departs slowly.
(pp. 58-9)",2013-06-21 03:24:26 UTC,"""That fatal Night the Duke felt hostile Fires in his Breast, Love was entred with all his dreadful Artillery; he took possession in a moment of the Avenues that lead to the Heart! neither did the resistance he found there serve for any thing but to make his Conquest more illustrious.""",2013-06-21 03:24:26 UTC,"","",,Empire,"","Searching ""mind"" in C-H Lion",21075,4111
"This Virtue is a Gift of Piety, a Sweetness of Spirit; for Clemency is of an Heroick Essence; and the Defection of that Active and Unbridled Passion, which oppugns it, and seems to check it, is the most Wonderful Effect, that they who exercise this Virtue, are able to produce, and the Victory gotten over it is much more Glorious than that which is won by Force of Arms.
(I, p. 115)",2013-06-21 15:52:48 UTC,"""This Virtue is a Gift of Piety, a Sweetness of Spirit; for Clemency is of an Heroick Essence; and the Defection of that Active and Unbridled Passion, which oppugns it, and seems to check it, is the most Wonderful Effect, that they who exercise this Virtue, are able to produce, and the Victory gotten over it is much more Glorious than that which is won by Force of Arms.""",2013-06-21 15:52:48 UTC,"","",,Animals,"",Searching in C-H Lion,21096,4040
"Tonnario, no Enemy to Volpone and Zarah, and a Friend in the Interest with those Lords then Discoursing, standing near, and hearing great Part of what had been said, join'd Company with them, and spoke thus, My Lords, If I may have the Liberty to give my Opinion of the Affair you seem to take Notice of betwixt Volpone and Zarah ; that Lady hath never much troubled her self at what either the C---t or the Town hath said concerning her frequent meeting Early and Late with Volpone, since they are so nearly Ally'd. Tho' some Enemies and Ill-natur'd People, censure her Guilty of a great deal of Im---, for showing so little Shame at it, yet the most Religious and Moderate Sort of People are perswaded to the contrary, and the most clear-sighted Eyes turn it to her Advantage, that her Constancy and Perseverance in the Matter are the Justification of her Innocence; and that good Intentions never make any Account at all of the Noise rais'd from Detraction: Guilt is never without a Character, we may Read it in the Criminals Faces; it will appear in their very Eyes, and express that the Contempt of Virtue hath caused an Insurrection of the Passions.
(II, p. 30)",2013-06-21 15:55:11 UTC,"""Guilt is never without a Character, we may Read it in the Criminals Faces; it will appear in their very Eyes, and express that the Contempt of Virtue hath caused an Insurrection of the Passions.""",2013-06-21 15:54:38 UTC,"","",,Inhabitants,"",Searching in C-H Lion,21097,4040
"The Noise of this Resentment struck Zarah's Ears with an unusual Surprize, she was troubled at it extreamly, and some say sigh'd for Sorrow, which she was scarce ever known to do before, but her better Thoughts prevail'd upon her at that Time, and she reproach'd herself for such Base Designs. But it is a ticklish Business for a Woman to repent of a Thing that extreamly delights her; and she seldom charges herself home for a Fault so pleasing as Revenge. For these Reproaches of Zarah against her self were not altogether the most violent that might be expected from one that pretended to have a real Sense of a Fault, but rather from one that was disappointed, that her Designs cou'd not have their intended Effect, so that sometimes she wou'd be angry with herself for making so much ado. At last, being assaulted by Turns, on the one Side by Reason, and the other by Interest and Passion, she got up early in the Morning, without having been able to take any other Resolution, than to yield her self up, if possible, to be govern'd by Volpone, and be for the future meerly Passive in the Management of that Business which so long had ruin'd her Repose.
(II, pp. 58-60)",2013-06-21 15:56:47 UTC,"""At last, being assaulted by Turns, on the one Side by Reason, and the other by Interest and Passion, she got up early in the Morning, without having been able to take any other Resolution, than to yield her self up, if possible, to be govern'd by Volpone, and be for the future meerly Passive in the Management of that Business which so long had ruin'd her Repose.""",2013-06-21 15:56:47 UTC,"","",,"","",Searching in C-H Lion,21098,4040
"The prince of Persia was not satisfied to read the letter once; he thought he had read it with too little attention, and therefore read it again with more leisure; and as he read, sometimes he uttered sighs, sometimes he wept, and sometimes he discovered transports of joy and affection, as one who was touched with what he read. In a word, he could not keep his eyes off those characters drawn by so lovely a hand, and therefore began to read it a third time. Then Ebn Thaher told him that the confidant could not stay, and that he ought to think of giving an answer. Alas! cries the prince, how would you have me answer so kind a letter? In what terms shall I express the trouble that I am in? My spirit is tossed with a thousand tormenting things, and my thoughts destroy one another the same moment they are conceived, to make way for more; and so long as my body suffers by the impressions of my mind, how shall I be able to hold paper, or a reed to write. Having spoke thus, he took out of a little desk, paper, cane, and ink.
(I, p. 163; cf. V, p. 111 in ECCO; pp. 326-7 in Mack's ed.)",2014-06-20 16:20:33 UTC,"""My spirit is tossed with a thousand tormenting things, and my thoughts destroy one another the same moment they are conceived, to make way for more; and so long as my body suffers by the impressions of my mind, how shall I be able to hold paper, or a reed to write.""",2014-06-20 16:20:33 UTC,"","",,Impressions,"",Reading,24060,7938